Calla Lily Plant Named &#39;Dubai Nights&#39;

ABSTRACT

‘Dubai Nights’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having dark purple colored spathes that produces 9-13 flowers per tuber. The flower stems are about 37-51 cm in height. The leaves are green with many whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/766,205, having a filing date of Oct. 4, 2018,and entitled “Varieties of Z. sprengeri Calla Lily Plants”, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Dubai Nights’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of callalily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar name ‘Dubai Nights’.

‘Dubai Nights’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had theobjective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production ina wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breedingprogram began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected fromthe crossing of Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Memories’ (femaleparent, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,823) with Zantedeschia sprengeri seedlingZ020011-437 (male parent, unpatented). ‘Dubai Nights’ was selected in2011 by the inventor in ‘t Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Dubai Nights’ by tissueculture was performed by the inventor in September of 2013 in ‘t Zand,The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture atthe same location have demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retainedand reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexualreproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown from 12 to 14 weeks in 14 cm pots in ‘t Zand, The Netherlandsunder greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used inhorticultural practice. Color references are made to The 2001 R.H.S.Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, 4^(th)Edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance areused.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations inenvironment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to bebasic characteristics of ‘Dubai Nights’ which, in combination,distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Purple colored spathes with a crème colored edge;

2. Lanceolate leaf shape;

3. Numerous leaf maculations present; and

4. High inflorescence production.

Table 1 provides a comparison of ‘Dubai Nights’ to its parents, as wellas Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.15,282).

TABLE 1 Trait Variety Relationship differences Description ‘DubaiNights’ New variety Spathe color Upper surface is RHS N79A, with asecond color of RHS 2D-3D Plant height 37-51 cm ‘Memories’ Female parentSpathe color Varies between RHS N186A and N186B Plant height 12-40 cmZ020011-437 Male parent Spathe color RHS 187A Plant height 30-42‘Picasso’ Known variety Spathe color Base color is RES 1D, with a secondcolor between RHS 79A-79B Plant height 50-65 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, withthe colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrationsof this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Type: Deciduous.-   Size:    -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—39-41 cm.        -   Height of top of inflorescences above the soil.—37-51 cm.        -   Diameter.—40-50 cm.        -   Form.—Semi-spreading.-   Number of inflorescences per tuber:    -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—9-13 inflorescences.-   Branches:    -   -   Number.—Plentiful.        -   Color.—Green Group RHS 143B.        -   Young shoot color.—Purple Group RHS 79A.-   Leaves:-   Size:    -   -   Width.—5.5-10 cm, with the broadest part of the leaf blade            slightly below the middle.        -   Length.—20-24 cm.        -   Number per plant.—21-33.        -   Leaf blade lobes.—Absent.        -   Shape.—Lanceolate.        -   Apex.—Apiculate.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire; having a color of Yellow-Green Group RHS            N144B.-   Color:    -   -   Upper surface.—Green Group RHS 138B, with numerous            maculations present.        -   Lower surface.—Green Group RHS 137C.-   Veins:    -   -   Configuration.—Pinnate.        -   Color.—Yellow-Green Group RHS 1.45B.        -   Surface texture.—Smooth (both surfaces).-   Petiole:    -   -   Length.—21-27 cm.        -   Color.—The base is Red-Purple Group RHS 59B, the upper part            is Green Group RHS 143B.-   Roots:    -   -   Color.—White Group RHS 155C.        -   Branching description.—Fibrous root system. Several main            roots emerge from the top of the tuber and form a small            number of lateral roots.-   Spathe:-   Size:    -   -   Length (measured from opening to tip).—8-10 cm.        -   Width.—4-7 cm.        -   Height.—6-8 cm.-   Color:    -   -   Throat spot.—Absent.        -   Upper surface.—Purple Group RHS N79A.        -   Lower surface.—Purple Group RHS N77A.        -   Vein color.—Purple Group RHS N79A.        -   Shape.—Funnel.-   Spadix:-   Size:    -   -   Length.—27-32 mm.        -   Diameter.—10-15 mm.        -   Color.—From Yellow Group RHS 13A to Red-Purple Group RHS            71A.        -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright.-   Peduncle:-   Size:    -   -   Length.—31-41 cm.        -   Diameter.—20-30 mm.        -   Color.—The upper part is Green Group RHS 143C, the lower            part is Red-Purple Group RHS 60B.        -   Texture.—Smooth.-   Reproductive organs:    -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.        -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.        -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.-   Stamens:    -   -   Presence.—Not visible before pollen release.        -   Number.—Between 480 and 600.        -   Pollen amount.—Abundant; similar to ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant            Pat. No. 15,282).        -   Color.—Between White Group RHS 155B and 155C.-   Anther:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Length.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow Group RHS 8B and 8C.-   Filament:    -   -   Length.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Color.—White Group RHS 155D.-   Pistils:    -   -   Number.—15 to 30.        -   Length beyond perianth.—About 1 mm.-   Stigma:    -   -   Shape.—Round.        -   Size.—Less than 1 mm.-   Style:    -   -   Length.—Less than 1 mm.        -   Color.—Between Yellow Group RHS 8B and 8C.-   Ovaries:    -   -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Length.—Between 1 to 10 mm.        -   Width.—Between 1 to 10 mm.        -   Color.—The top color is Green-Yellow Group RHS 1C, the            bottom color is Purple Group RHS N79A.-   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility/resistance to diseases    noticed to date.    -   -   Pest resistance.—No unusual susceptibility/resistance to            pests noticed to date.        -   Heat tolerance.—No heat tolerance.        -   Hardiness.—Not hardy.        -   Flowering.—In general, the time from planting to first            flowering takes eight weeks.        -   Lastingness.—About two weeks on the plant.        -   Fragrance.—None.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘DubaiNights’ as herein described and illustrated.